Machine for fluid treatment of fabric



p 1947. E. F. WILLIAMS Er AL 2,426,806

MACHINE FOR FLUID TREATMENT OF FABRIC Filed July 26, 194A 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 2, 1947. E. F. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,426,806

MACHINE FOR FLUID TREATMENT OF FABRIC Filed July 26, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN g 60 p E. F. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,426,806

MACHINE FOR FLUID TREATMENT OF FABRIC Filed July 26, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 I -44 I 45 4a 30 3a} Sept. 2, 1947. E. F. WILLIAMS ET AL MACHINE FOR FLUID TREATMENT OF FABRIC Filed Jul 26, 1944 4 Sheet-Sheet 4 on 7 Q Q 9 00 ,w o J v {g- "9 fig on Q Q Q a I a Patented Sept. 2, 1947 OFF-ICE MACHINE FOR FLUID TREATIHENT OF FABRIC Edward F. Williams and William Joseph Brayden, Maynard, Mass.

Application July 26, 1944, Serial No. 546,716

2 Claims. -(01. 68-19) This invention relates to a machine for continuously treating strip fabrics in open width with treating liquids for various purposes as, for example, washing or wetting of fabrics, neutralizing previously treated fabrics, dyeing, etc. The invention contemplates the continuous movement of strip fabric in open width along a predetermined path and simultaneously therewith treating the fabric, preferably progressively at relatively spaced zones therealong, by flowing treating liquid onto one face of the fabric and drawing such liquid through the fabric by the maintenance of a vacuum at said zones at the opposite face of the strip. The primary object of the invention resides in the production of an improved apparatus for thus continuously treating fabrics.

The invention more particularly concerns the washing of fabrics in strip form and in taut open width condition leaving the fabric free of wrinkles and preferably requiring the penetrating of only a single thickness of the fabric. Heretofore, newly manufactured fabrics have been first fulled by treating in various baths to remove dirt, dissolve grease, etc. and then washed and scoured in machines known as dolly washers. These machines each wash about three hundred yards of fabric at a batch, the fabric being folded or lapped both laterally and longitudinally into a doughnut-like roll which is continuously run through a washing bath and heavy squeeze rolls for a period of three hours for each batch. This method of procedure not only requires tons of water for each batch together with great quantities of soap and a considerable time period but, furthermore, stretches and places considerable wear on the fabric and leaves it in an unattractive and wrinkled mass condition injurious to the finish and quality of the final product. A further object of our invention resides in the production of an improved machine for washing the fulled fabric continuously in open width condition with a minimum of wash water passed but once through the fabric and requiring no additional soap, whereby keeping the fabric flat and the fibres round and intact, substantially as they left the fulling mill, and eliminating the objectional features above pointed out, and all at substantial less expenditure of time, lab r and materials than has been heretofore possible.

In accordance with our invention, the fabric to be treated is passed in flat open width along a predetermined path with one face in contact with a suction member extending transversely across the path, and preferably in contact with a plurality of such members located in spaced relation along the path, while wash water or other treating liquid is flowedonto the opposite face of the fabric in position to be drawn through the fabric along the suction member. The liquid fully penetrates through the fabric continuously and at a speed adapted to wash the fabric and remove dirt therefrom or perform such other functions desired. The provision'of such an improved machine for preferably treating the fabric progressively therealong at a plurality of relatively spaced zones at which the treating liq d is passed .through the fabric, comprises a further object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following descrlption of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one unit of a machine embodying our invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. .3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on lines 3-.3 of Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of themachine comprising a battery of units.

The machine comprising our invention is preferably constructed in independent units l0 and operated in the form of a battery comprising a plurality of units in aligned relation as illustrated in Fig. 5. The fabric l2 to be treated is passed in flat open width into and through the units along a predetermined path where it is treated progressively at the ,units in the manner hereinafter described.

Each unit Ill embodies a frame M on which is carried a relatively large pip [6 closed at one end l8 and having its other end connected by a pipe 20 to a separating chamber at 22. Pipe 24 connects the chamber to a water sealed vacuum 26 pump arranged to produce a vacuum in the chamber and pipes. The pipe I6 is slotted longitudinally along its top portion at 28. Mounted on each end of the pipe I6 is a plate 30 supporting an inwardly extending U-shaped yoke 32 having a plurality of ring-like sealing elements 34 on its lower fork and in position normally bridging and sealing the slot 28.

Supported on brackets; 36 at its ends is a bar or pipe-like member 38*p'arallel with and located forwardly of and at an elevation slightly below the slot 28. A horizontally extending plate 40 3 has its upper portion supported on the frame at 42 and from thence is inclined downwardly with its bottom edge resting on the member 38. Slots 43 and IS in the supporting brackets and plate permit angular adjustmentof the plate to the desired inclination. Treating liquid is distributed on and along this plate from a perforated pipe 44 extending along and above the plate and supported by overhead bridges 48 on the frame, the treating liquid being supplied to th perforated pipe 44 of each unit I 8 through a branch pipe 48 from a main supply pipe 58. The importance of the plate 48 is particularly emphasized since this plate serves the function of assuring a uniform and continuous distribution of the treating liquid first to the member 38 and from thence to the fabric supplying surface of the pool and to th fabric continuously and evenly in exact amount along the entire width of the fabric at the suction slot 28.

The fabric strip to be treated first passes to the machine beneath and in contact with a guide roll 52 and over and in contact with a roll 54. From thence the strip passes into contact with and is guided by the following elements: top surface of an abutment bar 56, bottom surface of the member 38, slotted portion of the pipe I6,

about a power driven drum 58, and outwardly over guide rolls 60 and 52. The drum 58 is driven in any convenient manner as by a chain 64.

The fabric, supported in open width on the rolls and surfaces illustrated, is drawn taut by the drum 58 which is adapted continuously to move the strip longitudinally in the direction of the arrow. The strip is in substantial sealing contact with the bottom of the member 38 and the surface bordering the slot 28 and that portion of the strip disposed therebetween forms the bottom inclined wall of a basin of which the member 38 provides a side wall, the ends of the basin being open. Wash water or other treating liquid is distributed on and along the plate 40 from the perforated pipe 44 and flows gently and uniformly down the plate to the fabric. The flow of liquid is sufficient to maintain substantially the level illustrated in the drawing, the surplus liquid overflowing at the ends of the basin and into a pan 66 from which it passes to a drain 68.

Such a full and uniform flow of liquid providing a continuous layer on and across the fabric is essential to the successful operation of our invention for the purpose of securing the mechanical penetrating and cleansing action that only a full and continuous supply of liquid can produce and also for the purpose of providing a solid body of liquid against which a heavy vacuum can be maintained. Th very strong mechanical action thus produced and effecting a rushing passage of the liquid through the fabric serves uniformly to clean and remove foreign matters at a rate and efficiency heretofore impossible. It will be apparent that failure thus to cover the fabric across its entire width adjacent to and along the dam at the slot 28 would cause unevenness in the amount of foreign matter removed from the fabric and unevencoloring and finishing effects in the fabric. The essential importance of flowing and maintaining a body of the treating liquid uniformly on and across the fabric as herein described and claimed is therefore particularly emphasized.

The fabric is moved longitudinally at a substantial speed and carries a layer of the water from the basin to the zone of the slot 28 where the water is drawn downwardly through the fabric. The vacuum maintained ordinarily approximates 20 inches although it will necessarily vary with the weight and texture of the fabric being treated, heavy felted fabric being adapted to produce a relatively greater vacuum. In any event the water is drawn through the fabric at a speed and in such quantity as thoroughly to impregnate the fabric and give it a thorough washing to remove foreign matter and impurities. The water is preferably heated to a moderate temperature but no soap is added. The foreign matter, having been loosened by the fulling of the fabric and kept'in soft condition by the soap remaining therein, is readily removed by the forceful passage of the water through the fabric. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the vacuum slot 28 is quite narrow, relative to the layer of water, and is located at the fabric-exiting edge of the treating zone. The narrow slot together with the vacuum maintained within the pipe I6 effects a rush of water through the fabric of sufilcient force and volume to clean and remove foreign matters uniformly at a rate and ei ficiency heretofore impossible and the locating of the slot at the exiting margin of the treating zone effects such total removal of the water at that location as to leave a minimum amount of dampness in the fabric. The water drawn into and through the pipe I6 is passed on to the separating chamber 22 from whence it passes into a drain.

It is quite apparent that the impregnating and cleansing action effected on a fabric by the vacuum slot treatment at one face depends upon several factors, including not only the passage of water through the fabric but furthermore upon th creation of a very strong mechanical action or rushing of water and air therethrough to pick up and remove foreign particles, soap and emulsified matter from the fabric. Our invention employs a process that utilizes this principle to the maximum degree and has maximum cleansing and drying effect on the product. The dam and pool on the fabric forwardly of the vacuum slot provides for a free and full flow of water to the fabric at the slot but without fully sealing the slot against the passage of some air through the fabric along with the water. The relative proportions of water and air thus passing through the fabric will depend upon various factors, including the character of the fabric, the level elevation of the pool, the extent of vacuum maintained, thewidth of the vacuum slot, etc. It will be apparent that in practicing the invention these factors will be properly co-ordlnated to produce the desired results. The pool provides a reservoir from which the slot can draw such full amount of water as can be passed through the fabric and slot but at no tim fully seals the slot against the simultaneous passage of a limited amount of air along with the water. Furthermore, the film of air passing through the fabric and slot is at the exit side of the slot and therefore serves to dry the fabric as it leaves the slot. In any event the process and apparatus effect a maximum impregnating, cleansing and drying of the fabric as it passes over the vacuum slot.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the machine preferably employs a plurality of units at each of which 'fresh'wash water is drawn through the fabric whereby progressively washing it to a predetermined degree of perfection. The fabric is furthermore washed with great uniformity, laboratory tests having shown less than .1% variance across the piece and less than .5% average over all. This uniformity in the fabric eliminates uneven dyeing and redyeing of the fabric. Sewage troubles are also non-existent with our machine due to the small amount of water used. A

valve Ill in communication with pipe 24 is provided for relieving the vacuum when occasion requires, the valve being operated by a handle 12.

Themachine battery shown in Fig. has been constructed and operated very successfully in production work. The fabric has been run through the machine at a speed of 40 to 50 yards per minute and the water consumed has been 43 gallons per piece of 24 oz. fabric of 60 yards length. Intermittently operating washers heretofore employed wherein the fabric is intermittently moved forwardly 27 feet and rearwardly feet through a washing bath has required 1200 gallons of water per piece of 24 oz. fabric of 60 yards length and has completed its washing functions at a speed of 22 yards per minute, The work performed by such washer which employs a soaped washing bath and scrubs the fabric however cannot be compared to the greatly superior work performed by our machine and the very substantially improved resulting product.

Furthermore, the costs in time, materials and mechanical upkeep have been very substantially reduced by our improved machine.

Fabrics to be washed by our process can be fulled with 1 oz. soap to produce clean washing and scouring, and grease and oil stains which have been troublesome in prior known methods are eliminated by our invention. Furthermore, the fabric remains flat at all times and washer wrinkles ar non-existent.

While our invention is particularly applicable to the washing of fabrics as above described, it is also useful in other treatments of fabrics, such as, for example, (1) for operating on goods that have been treated with paint remover, (2) the wetting out of goods for fulling, (3) the neutralizing of carbonized goods, (4) dyeing, etc.

In certain operations it is desirable or necessary to give the fabric a special treatment prior to passing it through our machine and in such cases the fabric in full width form is passed through a treating bath on its way to the washing machine, a tank for this purpose being provided forwardly of the machine. The fabric can be washed before or without fulling if desired by first soaping it in this tank or otherwise and then scouring by running it through the machine. In the neutralizing treatment the fabric is thus passed through a prescribed solution of alkali or soda on its way to the washing machine, the bath tank being located to the left of Fig. 5. The fabric is continued from the treating bath to. and through the washing machine. The process leaves the fabric ready for future processes such '6 as fullins, coloring or other steps in finishing and the uniformity of the treatment throughout the length and breadth of the fabric is of especial advantag in such further process treatments through which the fabric is passed to the finished product.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a fabric washing machine, the combination of a pair of substantially horizontal crossthe cross-members, means for feeding liquid into said trough for maintaining a substantially constant pool of liquid therein, the rearward crossmember having a slotted opening extending lengthwise along its top face and so located with respect to said forward cross-member that said opening may underlie the rear margin of the pool and the fabric passing over said rearward crossmember, and suction-producing means operatively associated with said rearward cross-member and slotted opening for drawing liquid from the pool through said fabric.

2. The machine defined in claim 1 in which said liquid feeding means includes a plate having a lower edge disposed horizontally above and across the path of the strip and said plate being inclined downwardly to and disposed above the forward edge of the trough, and means for flowing liquid uniformly onto and along the plate which serves to conduct th liquid uniformly to the pool.

EDWARD F. WILLIAMS. WILLIAM JOSEPH BRAYDEN.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,861,490 Butterworth June 7, 1932 2,342,266 Gessner Feb. 22, 1944 1,846,845 Clark Feb. 23, 1932 1,893,197 (John Jan. 3, 1933 2,251,931 Gundelfinger Aug. 12, 1941 1,737,149 Cohoe Nov. 26, 1929 

